Snow Shoes: Rent 'em: $10-20/day
Boots:$10 Silicone Spray. are your hikers not Gore-tex'd? Mine have a Gore-Tex "inner" and I siliconed the outer...no prob for a first time "test".I honestly doubt that you would go farther than 5mi the first time out (its all about technique)
Snow Pants: You will be working your a$$ off sweating! Hiking pants sprayed will do fine -- it is not like X-c skiing; you do not fall much...(famous last words)
Winter Shell: Huh? a VEST at the most! Or whatever shell you carry for backpacking if you are resting too much...I do not have a "winter" designated shell. I have ONE shell -- marmot Precip -- and it covers all bases.
Snow Trekking Poles: You already have these(if not, you should get some) -- they are called hiking poles. Put winter baskets on them and they become "Snow Trekking Poles"...take the baskets off and they become "Ice Axe" (don't axe)
I do not mean to sound like a nag, but "technical" gear for a first time outing is overkill...I always back into any new sport very low on the gear investment (most of my backpacking gear is STILL the same used stuff I started out with...and I still love it)
